National Identification and Registration (NIDS) 2021 Act

The National Identification and Registration, (NIDS) Act, 2021 or the NIDS Bill has been passed in the House of Representatives on October 13. The National Identification System (NIDS) will give a wide and secure structure to enable the acquisition and storage of identity information. Minister of Justice, Delroy Chuck joined the CVM Live Panel Discussion to share on the recently passed National Identification and Registration (NIDS) 2021 Act.

Noting the difference between the current NIDS Bill and the previous bill, Minister Chuck stated that the previous bill mandatory clause which was objected to by the applicants. He noted the mandatory nature of the bill was inconsistent with the Charter of Rights, while the NIDS 2021 Bill is discretionary as Jamaicans citizens will now have the option of whether or not they want to register to get a National Identification Card, (NIC) or to remain out of the system.

The Minister noted that the probability of close to a million Jamaicans do not have any means definitive identification. Citing the current COVID-19 vaccination process, where citizens without national identifications have to present a picture and a letter from a Justice of the Peace, (JP) in order to to be inoculated. He noted that the NIDS system would be a game changer and big step in the direction of digitization for Jamaica.